Social Development

Brazil



There is much progress to be had in social development in Brazil.

In Brazil the life expectancy for men is 69 and for women 76 years. This means that the availability of health care and food is worse than in other big countries. Brazil is actually quickly fixing this problem and some estimates show that it will reach an average age of 81 by 2040. Although having worse access to medicine, good food and having other accidents and disasters it is quickly getting better.

The education system is deeply flawed in Brazil. in 1995 The universities got paid twice as much as basic schools and that means that many did not get properly educated. Also illiteracy is widespread. Education however has become very important in the eyes of the families and the government funding is getting better as well. It is good that some progress is going on. This causes a lot of educated people but also a lot of people who dont even graduate. This is a problem with so-called two extremes, meaning that education is either very good or very bad.

Poverty exists in Brazil in big numbers. A good indicator would be the slums already, showing how many people can't afford a better home or food. Some reforms have been implemented to fix the hunger issue and giving out aid to poor people by giving them some money or food. One third of the population is considered poor and 13% extremely poor. Brazil has one of the biggest inequalities in wealth distribution.

Cuba



Cuba's biggest problem is poverty. Thanks to many factors like strict government control, the US embargo, the field in which people work(agriculture) and much more are contributing factors to the poverty of the nation. This means that people don't have money to properly eat, to be able to afford decent housing and the government does not do much to help it. There is a small range between wealthy and poor people in Cuba though. Since food is an issue in Cuba, the government is rationing food as well.

Education in Cuba is actually in a much better situation. The education is free through elementary school to college. Also healthcare is free in the country. That helps many people get educated, but the trouble with that is that even though it is not allowed to leave, the educated manage to often leave the country, so the intelligence goes abroad.

Cuba has one of the better life expectancies in the region thanks to the free healthcare provided. The average life expectancy is 77.6 years, compared to the American 78.1. This shows that the life expectancy, even though the food is scarce, is pretty high. The healthcare system in Cuba seems to be working really well. That also helps a lot with the country's situation by just keeping people alive and well, so they are able to make the place better.